The ManicaPost
Simbarashe Musara
Post Correspondent
SOCIAL media has emerged as a communication medium and source of information in the 21st Century.
Big corporations and small businesses have resorted to online marketing and their presence on social media is now huge.
Even celebrities and influencers in society are cashing in through social media.
This has made social media a popular communication medium, with the likes of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp dominating.
However, one has to keep in mind that just like any other social tools, social media come with negative effects and these have been affecting many people around the globe.
With companies, churches, social groups, families and friends all connected through social media, some have become slaves to social media.
If your self-esteem and ego is dependent on the likes, views, shares, and followers you have, you are a slave to social media and as good as a drug addict.
Social media tends to be very addictive and those who are addicted to it tend to neglect their personal life.
They have mental pre-occupation, escapism and mood modifying experiences.
Social media activates the same areas as drugs.
The reward centre of the brain that activates when one uses drugs is the same area that is activated when one uses social media, hence the addiction.
An average person spends eight hours on social media per day and this person can neglect other activities in life as they will be preoccupied.
A person can also feel inadequacy about their life or appearance.
On social media, people post their pictures and if others get more likes, this can make social media users involuntarily see these people as a benchmark.
If they have a certain lifestyle and yours is different and you are getting less likes when you post pictures, you might think that you are not enough and it can hurt your self-esteem.
Models can post pictures and get more likes and if you try to compare your body structure with them, you might start thinking there is something wrong with your appearance.
The other thing that can affect your mental health is cyber bullying, where people tend to make nasty comments on your content or pictures.
This can cause depression, anxiety and low self-esteem.
People have to note that social media is also a platform were some people can anonymously post stuff and degrade others without revealing their identities.
ln reality, these trolls lack self-confidence and try to extend their brokeness to other people, then the vicious cycle of cyber bullying goes on.
Fear of missing out is another downfall of social media.
On the platforms, that’s where you find all the breaking news and all the gossip.
If you give in to social media, you are bound to constantly check on updates and basically check on how others are doing.
This can disrupt you if you are doing your studies, working or driving.
How can you execute a task whole heartedly when you are constantly on your phone? You are prone to make mistakes.
In the workplace, you might rush to complete a task so that you can be able to go back on social media and get the latest updates.
In line with the social impact theory, a person is asked to stay logged on to social media because of the power of the platforms.
It is worth noting that the people that one wants to connect with are just a mobile device away, which is usually in the owner’s hands at most times.
This means that there is ease of access to the influencing group, thus people are constantly checking their mobile devices for new updates, posts, events, news, reviews, messages and status updates.
The many different activities that are done on social media also gives an influencing power on the group and leaves the target of influence in a vulnerable and compromising position to the extent of failing to resist it.
Social media has now broken the social fabric as face to face communication and bonding is becoming less and less pronounced.
It’s worth noting that for families that live together, they may be constantly interacting.
However, some may live together but still feel like they are apart as everyone will be focusing on their phones.
Social media is also now a safe haven for those who would want to air out their emotional stress.
It has become a platform for people to tell their problems.
Instead of seeking help and advice in the real world outside of social media, some are now focusing more on social media.
It is high time companies start to draft social media policies and parents start limiting their children’s access to social media.
The relevant authorities need to educate people on the negative effects of social media.
lndividuals need to spend less time on social media platforms.
